Educational appliance.



PATENTED OUT. 24, 1905-,

J. H. FITCH. EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED APB-.7. 1905.

ATTORNEYS.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDUCATIONAL APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905..

Application filed April 7, 1905. Serial N0- 254,335.

To all whom, it mmty concern."

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON HOWARD FITCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jeifcrsonville, in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Educational Appliances, of which the following isaspeciiication.

My invention is an improvement in educational appliances, being in the nature of clockblocks; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the blocks, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side of the blocks. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the block appliances on about the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, both lids being applied in Fig. 3. Fig. 4: is a detail view of the hour-hand block. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the intermediate blocks. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the hour-blocks, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the corner-blocks.

In carrying out my invention I provide a holder consisting, preferably, of the two lids or sectionsA A, which may be fitted together over the blocks to form a case therefor, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These lids are recessed in their adjacent faces, so that each, with its bottom plate and edge portions, forms a box for the blocks When in the lower position and a lid for the blocks when in the upper position, and the sections A may be alike, as shown in Fig. 3. These sections are preferably rectangular and equilateral, and the recesses in the boxes are preferably shallower than the thickness of the blocks, so the latter can be easily withdrawn from the holder for any desired purpose.

As shown, the blocks B, C, D, and E are arranged in four series, and these blocks, except the blocks E, are approximately segmental with their ends formed on radial lines and with their inner and outer sides on straight lines, and the several succeeding series are concentric, with the ends of the radially-alined blocks coinciding and the blocks of each succeeding series as they depart from the center being wider than the preceding blocks, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring particularly to the blocks B, it will be noticed that the ends I) thereof are on radial lines, while the outer edge 6 of the block is straight, and the ends 6 aline with the ends C of the intermediate block C. The inner blocks B have their ends 7) converging to the center, and the several blocks are inscribed near their center to form a circle F, simulating the ring at the inner end of the clock-hands G and H, the former being the representation of the minutehand and the latter the representation of an hour-hand. As shown, the hour-hand is inscribed entirely on one of the blocks of the central series, so its position may be varied by changing such block with any other one of the central series. The minute-hand, however, is inscribed partly on one of the blocks of the central series and partly on one of the blocks of the intermediate series, so that in changing this minute-hand to vary its position relatively to the hournumerals on the blocks D of the hour series it will be necessary to manipulate the blocks of the central and intermediate series, as will be understood from Fig. l.

The blocks D of the hour series are suitably inscribed with the Roman numerals, as is usual on a clock-dial, and when disposed as shown in Fig. 1 provide a dial similar to the clockdial in common use, the Roman numerals being disposed in the usual order. It will be understood, however, that the blocks may be mixed up and any suitable problem given to a child as, for instance, to arrange the blocks D in proper succession and to dispose the blocks B and C to indicate any suitable time in the twelve hours, and this will afford amusement and instruction, as by the use of the blocks a child of suitable age can quickly learn the Roman numerals exhibited on the clock-dial, the proper position of such numerals, and can also learn how to tell the time as indicated by the hands printed on the blocks.

On the reverse sides of the blocks when disposed as shown in Fig. 1 will be found the names of the months on the blocks D, the number of days in the months on the blocks C, and the blocks B will be inscribed to indicate the four seasons-winter,spring, summer,and autumn the letters making up the names of the diii'erent seasons being inscribed on the blocks B, which latter can be arranged, as indicated in Fig. 2, to register with the proper months.

The corner-blocks E are suitably shaped to to fill the corners of the holder outside of the outer series of blocks, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be noticed that the blocks carrying the representation of the minute-hand may be arranged to indicate time in periods of five minutes, which is ordinarily the first step taken in learning to tell the time.

Manifestly the holder may be made of Wood, pasteboard, or other suitable material.

Having thus described my invention, WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The educational appliance herein de scribed comprising the holder consisting of two similar rectangular box-sections recessed in their inner faces to receive the blocks, the central series of blocks, the intermediate series of blocks, the outer series of blocks and the corner-blocks, the inner, intermediate and outer blocks being approximately segmental with their ends formed on radial lines and their outer sides on straight lines and arranged in a plurality of concentric series with the ends of the radially-alined blocks coinciding, the blocks of the outer circular series being provided with Roman numerals, one of the blocks of the inner series having a representation of an hour-hand and one of the blocks of the inner series and one of the blocks of the intermediate series being provided with indications combining to form the representation of a minute-hand, and the opposite sides of the blocks of the inner, intermediate and outer series being inscribed respectively with the names of the seasons, the number of days in a month, and the names of the months, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An educational appliance comprising a plurality of approximately circular series of blocks, some of which are provided with indications correspondingto the hours of the day and others with indications corresponding to the hands of a clock, the blocks being movable, substantially as set forth.

3. An educational appliance comprising a plurality of approximately circular series of blocks including an outer series inscribed on one side with the hours in succession, on the other side with the names of the months in succession, an intermediate series and an inner series, one of the blocks of the inner series being provided on one side with a representation of an hour-hand and one of the blocks in each the inner series and the inter mediate series being provided with representations of portions of a minute-hand and the blocks of the central series having letters which may be combined to form the names of the seasons, and the blocks of the intermediate series having on one side the numbers of days in the months, substantially as set forth.

4. An educational appliance comprising a plurality of approximately circular series of blocks, a rectangular holder for said blocks and blocks filling the corners of said rectangular holder, substantially as set forth.

JEFFERSON HOWVARD FITCH.

Witnesses:

KATE GIRDLER FI'roH, JAMES J. MORRIS. 

